Today Lea and I completed step two of becoming “Residente Temporal.” If all goes well, our visa cards will be returned from Mexico City in about 2 weeks.
We have an excellent attorney:
Hernandez and Associates
Calle 15 No. 127 Colonia Mexico
Merida, Yucatan, Mexico, 97125
Tel & Fax: +52 (999) 944 – 5114
Tel & Fax: +52 (999) 944 – 1392
We were in and out of the office in less than 20 minutes. We had our documents checked, gave them our 2.5 X 3 CM photos (front and right side–no jewelry or hair on the ears; no problem for me–being that I am “follically” challenged), and had 10 finger prints taken.
But this is not the main reason that I am blogging today:
The experience was wonderful–but not necessarily for the administrative ease. Everyone was pleasant, smiling and seemed genuinely happy that we have chose Mexico for the next chapter in our lives. As I sat in the waiting room, I could not help but to let my mind wander to the many rooms in the US with scared immigrants waiting to either have their documents processed or trying to find out if they will be separated form their love ones. People who are outwardly despised in many places (like Maricopa County). The US: where nearly all of us are the sons and daughters of immigrants who were welcomed.
What caused my mind to drift to these thoughts?
Yesterday I received a copy of an email sent to “all my conservative friends” by a former high school classmate (and a former friend who, at the time, was reasonable and a democrats.) The email was sent to me by a very dear friend in New Orleans who is in rehabilitation after a stroke. (Thank goodness for medicaid and his friends.) I am copying the email below to highlight why I am so worried about the US right now. This email is full of lies, racist over- and under-tones, xenophobia, arrogance and hatred. It is the kind of rhetoric that is spewed out and sucked in with not one iota of purpose other than to add fuel to the racist fire. It breaks my heart to see people being sucked into this vortex of hate. I fear we are sliding towards a new civil war. Here is the email (no need to reveal the author–I am sure that it is a cut-and-mindless-paste email anyway):
To all my CONSERVATIVE friends:
I have no problem sending this to EVERYONE. Please consider doing the same, It’s incredible that 42% of Americans think that this unqualified, incompetent, dishonorable, ego-driven fraud is doing a good job. Take a moment. Admit it to yourself. You know who his supporters are. They are the people that YOU support—financially. Did you notice whom Obama threatened when he wasn’t getting his way on raising the debt ceiling? He threatened not to pay: – Social Security Retirees – Military Retirees – Social Security – Disability and -Federal Retirees. Now let this sink in really well… – He did not threaten to stop payments to illegal aliens. – He did not threaten to take frivolous benefits such as Internet access away from violent inmates. – He did not offer to fire some of the thousands of unnecessary federal employees that he hired. – He did not offer to cut down on his or his wife’s frivolous gallivanting around— $20 Million already spent on family vacations. (One Million on a FL golf outing). All our money…why not? – He didn’t threaten farm subsidies. – He did not threaten not to pay the senators and representatives or any of their staff. – He did not threaten to take benefits away from welfare recipients or to stop the free cell phones they get. – He did not threaten the food stamp programs. – He did not threaten to reduce payments in foreign aid. – He did not threaten to cut back on anything that involves his base voters. – The list could go on and on. He is in full political mode! Why are we allowing this person to destroy this wonderful country with his selfishness and his lies? Have WE lost our blooming minds!!!!!!!!His type of change is killing our country. He needs to be stopped. Do not forget about his tactics when it’s election time 2014. Get out and Vote in the mid-term election – 2014. Support the people in the House and Senate that are willing to cut taxes and spending. Let’s make 2014 – the beginning of a turn-around. Forget change. We want our $$$$$$$$$ back and we want to take our country back! We the people are coming. Only 86% will send this on. Should be 100%. What will you do? ONE FLAG, ONE LANGUAGE, ONE NATION UNDER GOD! In God We Trust.
Today is bitter sweet to the fullest extent. My heart is heavy with sadness for the US. My heart is light for the love shown to us by the Mayans.
Hey jeff
You are right about the mayans,
I do have mayan blood running thru my veins and I do appreciate the kindness and humbleness of my people…I like you since I first met you, and I can assure you that “the real” local people from merida will make merida a pleasant place for you to enjoy. From time to time, you might run into superficial people with no values in culture…but we could talk about that whenthe time comes… there is always someone like that everywhere.
Thanks Roberto. I have much to learn from your ancestors through the presence of your contemporaries.
wow…….that email is not only disturbing but factually inaccurate. that is what the loss of privilege sounds like
It is frightening to watch as, one by one, family members and friends slip into the vortex of hate and ignorance.
Thank you for this post and your insight into the topic.